Assessing a company’s work-life balance culture in an interview
When we were training for that all important interview experience in college, we were given all kinds of hints: prepare an answer to the question, “What is your weakness?” and turn it around to look like a strength, be on time, don’t fidget, and, don’t be the first to bring up salary, give a “range” of required salary if asked, etc.
You know the drill.
However, as we’ve gotten older (oh, you have too, don’t give me that) and had kids, we now often have to explore a company’s work-life balance culture during the interview process.
When and how is best to do it?
For the most part, in our current culture, it’s often better to explore this carefully with an interviewer, as it can (whether or not you agree that it should be that way) be off putting when a candidate appears more concerned about personal needs than about the job.
The Wall Street Journal has an article, Subtly Is Best To Determine Aspects of Job that talks about this very thing.
The sentiment in that story is that the best way to obtain information about work-life balance withing a company is to do so indirectly.
However, Cali and Jody take exception to this indirect approach, and, feel that job seekers should stand up for what they need in a position at the front end without worrying about how to speak the “code” of what a job demands from your personal life.
What say you? The direct or the indirect approach?
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POSTED IN: Work and Life
3 opinions for Assessing a company’s work-life balance culture in an interview
Nataly
Jan 31, 2008 at 7:40 am
I always hate answers like I am about to give, but I think it depends. I think it largely depends on how much negotiating power you have –e.g. you’re totally qualified, the company really wants and needs you and you have some leverage. If you’re trying to get into a position that’s a stretch or competitive, then I think you’re better off being subtle and then figuring things out once you’ve got it.
Of course, I don’t really have the subtle gene, so I’ve only experienced one side of this. Sometimes it worked, often they listened to me, nodded yes, and then gave me 12 hours of work to do:)
Kristen Callaghan
Feb 1, 2008 at 8:28 am
I am thankful more and more people and companies are realizing the importance of jobs with work/life balance. I even found a website with only these type of jobs. Its called http://www.needlestackjobs.com.
midlife mommy
Feb 2, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I’m all for the indirect approach. I ask about the potential coworkers (if they are in the interview) what a typical day/week is like. I’ll also ask about travel expectations, but that is a typical question that shouldn’t set off alarm bells. During my last interview, the head of the department was lauding the efforts of his staff (who were all in the interview) for the e-mails they sent on Sundays, etc. That told me enough.
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